UFC 118 Results and Analysis

Saturday night in Boston made way for some interesting fights, with the latest "Boxing VS MMA" dispute being settled (for now), and the lightweight belt being retained by its owner. Lets look at the results of the fight card:

Nate Diaz VS Marcus Davis

 Results: Diaz performed well in this fight, showing from the beginning he was superior to Davis (and Diaz knew it). He out boxed "The Irish Hand Grenade", beating the side of his face and cutting him pretty good, up until late in the 3rd round where he slapped on a nice guillotine.

Analysis: Marcus Davis looked slow in comparison to Diaz, whose stand up was more effective. Diaz beat him up and wore him out until just minutes from the end of the 3rd when Diaz locked in the submission.

Nate Diaz via 3rd Round Submission

Kenny Florian VS Gray Maynard

Results: Florian had no answer for Maynard's impressive wrestling as he was repeatedly taken down and pout pointed en route to a Unanimous Decision.

Analysis: Florian looked far from impressive last night, and seemingly had no way to alter his game plan around Maynards wrestling. Maynard gets a title shot with Frankie Edgar following this win.

Gray Maynard via Unanimous Decision

 Demian Maia VS Mario Miranda

 Results: Maia tried a few times to finish the fight, utilizing his great BJJ skill set, but was unable as he rode superior grappling to a Unanimous Decision.

Analysis: Miranda, a solid striker, simply could not get around Maia's grappling and wrestling. He did fight off numerous submission attempts, but could not earn the win.

 Demian Maia via Unanimous Decicion

Randy Couture VS James Toney

 

Results: Within the opening seconds, Randy Couture shot for a low take down, and Toney just kind of fell over. After that Couture utilized some ground and pound before locking in an easy arm triangle, and his simplest pay day ever.

 Analysis: There isn't really much to be said about this fight. Anyone who saw it going any other way then what happened last night was either sniffing glue or James Toney himself.

Randy Couture via 1st Round Submission

 

 

Frankie Edgar VS BJ Penn

 Results: The fight resembled much of the previous match up, except with Edgar looking more dominant. he utilized take downs and effective boxing, as well as good defensive wrestling to win a unanimous decision.


Analysis: Once again, BJ did not seem to have anything for Edgar, and it seemed that just like last time, he spent way too much of the fight tentative and waited much too long to try to take the fight to the ground, which he seemingly couldn't handle anyway. 

Frankie Edgar via Unanimous Decicion

  Total Prediction Record for UFC 118 : 3-2

WEC 50 - Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 Results and Analysis

The 18th of August provided a great night of WEC fights for fans, with several high profile slug fests, and a fight or two crazy enough to be added to the fight of the year discussion: Lets get right to it, and look into the results and then analyze the fights a little;

Bart "Bartimus" Palaszewski VS Zachary Micklewright

 Results: Palaszewki looked dominant in his performance over tough opponent Micklewright. The first round was close, with both fighters landing shots, but Bartimus looked more confident in his striking. he only needed under a minute in the second round to drop Micklewright to the mat and end the fight.

Analysis: Micklewright was supposed to bring great stand up and power and the always interesting southpaw stance into the fight, but he clearly got outclassed at his own game.

Bart "Bartimus" Palaszewski Victory Via KO

 Scott "Young Guns" Jorgensen VS Brad "One Punch" Pickett 

 

Results: Jorgensen's bout with Pickett won fight of the night honors, and has so far been called one of the best fights this year, and rightfully so - This fight was as exciting as they come. The fight went to the score cards, but not for lack of both fighters trying to knock each their opponent's head off.

Analysis: Both of these fighters have the capability to throw with heavy hands, but luckily for them they also have some of the best chins in the business. Jorgensen took some punishment from Pickett early on but followed up in the later rounds with his own power shots, and taxed owns leading to some nice offensive elbows.Both fighters took a load of punishment but Pickett's face looked far worse off come the bell.

Scott "Young Guns" Jorgensen Victory via Unanimous Decision

 Chad Mendes VS Cub Swanson

Results: Chad Mendes came into the fight undefeated and planned to use his wrestling to keep it that way. He effectively used his take downs and top control to neutralize Cub Swanson for most of the 3 rounds.

Analysis: Swanson made good headway with the fact that he could escape from some mat a few times, but overall he could not stop the take downs, and that cost him the fight.

Chad Mendes Victory Via Unanimous Decision

Anthony "Showtime" Pettis VS Shane Roller

 Results: Anthony Pettis has the nickname "showtime" for a reason, and that's because his flashy yet effective strikes, and ability to finish the fight are a spectacle to be seen. Using a variety of stand up strikes and keeping Roller from utilizing his wrestling, Pettis took the fight just about to the scorecards till he caught Roller with a last second triangle.

Analysis: Roller looked slow and uncoordinated in this fight. Either that or Pettis just looked brilliant, some of the strikes he pulled off were straight out of the Anderson Silva playbook. And in the end Roller was too gassed to stop himself from falling into the submission just seconds from the bell.

Anthony "Showtime" Pettis Victory Via 3rd Round Submission

Dominick Cruz VS Joseph Benavidez

Results: In his first title defense of the Bantamweight belt, Cruz went up against his former opponent, Benavidez. Cruz was as always, incredibly quick on his feet, hard to hit, and showed brilliant cardio. He used these traits and his superior wrestling and take downs to take the fight all 5 rounds to the judges, while having the fight in his favor.

Analysis: Benavidez fought a much better fight then the first time these two met, but it was till hard for him to match the speed and elusiveness and ultimately defend his take downs, granting Cruz extra points. The fight would have been a unanimous decision, but apparently one of the judges forgot basic math or napped during the fight.

Dominick Cruz Victory via Split Decision

 Total Prediction Record for WEC 50 - Cruz VS Benavidez 2 : 3 - 2